National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith Wants More Women On NRL Boards

National Rugby League CEO Dave Smith has "moved to increase the female influence across the NRL by revealing clubs could suffer financial penalties in future years unless they have women in their boardrooms," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Smith, speaking at a Women in League lunch at the Museum of Contemporary Art, also "outlined his desire to see a ­woman referee control an NRL game in the future." However, it is his "eagerness to have the boardrooms of the NRL more inclusive that will make clubs sit up and take notice." Less than half of the 16 clubs have women on their boards. As part of the future funding model, clubs "will be required to meet minimum standards." One of those is "likely to include the provision that clubs have at least one female director" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/15). In Sydney, Adrian Proszenko reported Smith said "competency and gender'' would be crucial to club boardrooms. Smith: ''We increasingly want people to be part and parcel of the game.'' During her address at the function, Canterbury CEO Raelene Castle "was asked how the role of women in rugby league would evolve." Castle: ''The processes the NRL [is] putting in place around governance and having the expectation of a female representative on the board is a huge step forward. That will be a significant gauge for all of rugby league as to how successful we are" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/14).